The Portland daily press., 1887-05-24
ARRESTED ON SUSPICION.
Nine Men in Custody for Trying to
Sell Counterfelts.
The Strange Experience of Mr. Car
penter of Bethel.
How Party of Soap PeddIers Cot
Into Trouble.

iluG IutU III lilt Duttk vi IL St Va az
tempting to sell counterfeit money. The
persons placed under arrest had been board
ing in the hotel for about a week and were
supposed to be in the employ of one of their
number, who gave his name as David Stein
berg and claims to be the proprietor of
toilet and laundry soap.
A week ago last Sunday Steinberg accom-
panied by man who registered as Benedict
L. Davis of Newark, N. j., came to the
hotel after arriving in the city by the boat
from Boston. Stenberg who halls from
New York, told Mr.. Pratt the proprietor of
the Eagle House, that he wanted to make ar
engagements for three or four weeks board
for eight men, besides himself and Davis.
He said that he intended TO introduce his
soap here and the other men were in his en-
plOy. On Tuesday seven men arrived,
making nine in the party. The new corners
registered under the following names:
Benjamin f. Komblen, Louis Gutenberg,
James Burke, Louis Simon, Charles Howard,
j. p. Broderick, of New York; and William
Chase of Boston.
HOW THE GANG WORKED.
The party immediately after coming to the
city commenced TO pedde their soap through
the streets. A horse and wagon was hired
at Sawyer's stable. The soap and wash
ing powder called Puritene were loaded into
the wagon and then handed out to the men
in small baskets, each man as he sold the
contents of his basket from house to house
returning to the wagon for a fresh lot
Steinberg said that he was to be followed by
an agent who would place his goods in the
market, the object of Steinberg and the men
being to advertise The SOAP To do this
eight packages of the washing powder were
sold for one dollar and then sixteen cakes
of the soap were thrown in. The crowd did
a lively business and it is said that their
receipts averaged ten dollars day for each
man. People driving into town from the
country were stopped and the powder and
soap fairly forced upon them.
The soap itself looks like any ordinary
washing soap. Around each cake is wrap
per of red paper on which is printed David
Steinbere's Palm Soap for Laundry or Toilet
Use,' and a long description of the virtues
of the article concluding with the statement
that it is manufactured by the Pavonia
Soap Company Of Brooklyn, New York.
OFFERING coUNTERFEIrs.
Last Saturday morning Mr. Carpenter Of
Bethel, a country trader took up his
quarters at Mr.. Pratt's hota Mr.. Car
penter afterwards told an interesting story
of his experience with Steinberg. He said
that the soap seller, after being given the
idea that the Bethel trader was man who
would not look at all unfavorably upon such
scheme, offered to sell Carpenter counter
felt treasury notes, which could not be de-
tected from good money, atvery reasonable
rates. Carpenter said that he had a friend
who would like to buy some of the money,
and make an agreement with Stcinberg for a
meeting Sunday evening. Before the time.
however, Steinberg told Carpenter that he
should nor be able to make the sale that
night, but would do so the next morning at
eight O'Clock.
Carpenter, in the meantime, had met Off
Ger Thrasher and told HIM the story. The
officer promptly reported to Captain Black
at the station and the movements of Stein.
berg from that time were known to the au.
thorities 1t was necessary to have some
body to play the part of friend to Mr.. Car
penter and Detective True became that in
dlvidual. At half past seven yesterday morn
ing, Carpenter was at the United States no.
tel. In accordance with previous arrange
ment, Mr. True walked into the hotel office
and lighted cigar at the desk Carpenter
was on the lookout for just this proceeding
and half an hour later at the Eagle House
introduced Mr. True to Steinberg, as gentle
man whose occupation gave him every oppor-
tunity to work off the queer to advantage.
Mr.. True, who had been introduced to
Steinberg as Chas. E. Smith, was first taken
into a room in the second story, and then
conducted to another room up another fight.
Here two or three members of Stelnberg's
party came in and looked at Mr.. True. Fl.
nally Steinburg said to him, 81 suppose you
know what you are going into" Mr.. True
intimated that he did and that he was ready
te take some of the money then.
Steinberg again delayed and said that he
could not get at the money before Wednes-
day. He stipulated that at that time the pur-
chaser should be present with valise, into
which the counterfeit bills would be put
The vallse was then to remain closed until
its owner had left the city. Steinberg agreed
to furnish $500 of the bogus bills for 500 in
good money.
Officers Thrasher and Skillings were wait
ing near to make an arrest if Steinberg pro-
duced the money, but as the transaction was
postponed until Wednesday the arrest
was not made at the time Mr.. True was
talking with Steinberg. At noon, how
ever, it was thought best to take the gang
into custody, to prevent their leaving town.
Accordingly at quarter past twelve a squad
of officers went to the hotel and captured
the nine men, two being at dinner when the
arrest was made. The party were marched
to the station and locked up.
SEARCHING FOR EVIDENCE.
The officers made careful inspection of
the baggage of the prisoners but failed to
find anything eliminating. What money the
men had seemed to be good and in the letters
and papers found there was no allusion to
any wrong doing. One or two letters were
discovered which had been opened by men,
bers Of the party, and were apparently in
tended for them, but bore in the direction
names not found in the register at the Eagle
Hotel
The party has received soap and the wash
ing powder by the New York boat and about
twenty boxes of the goods are now lying at
the wharf directed to Steinberg.
AFTER THE ARREST.
After tie arrest, Steinberg told the others
to keep still and that he would answer all
| questions. He said that the matter was one
| for the United States officials to take in
charge, anyway. In the station one of the
men remarked that he wondered if the ar
rests had been made upon information from
the Lynn officers, and Chase told him Il
"shut up" Another said that they had go
his ten dollar bill, but the only bill of thai
denomination found among the prisoner;
property was torn Confederate bill
Mr.. Carpenter left for Bethel on one of the
noon trains on the Grand Trunk.
John De Witt, a canyasser for paten
brush, and j. d. Carleton, farmer and lum.
Der dealer, of Conway, N. H.. had made the
acquaintance of several of the party, and a
the request of the man giving his name al
Chase, went to the station yesterday after
noon. The visitors were questioned as t
their relations with the party under arrest
but proved their acquaintance with them wa
only casual one. They said that Chase ap
peared to hold aloof from his companions
claimed to be well connected, having rela
| tiyps in Roston and was annarpntly n re